Alumnus Michael set to dine with the Queen

Tue, May 22, 2012 14:58 CET

Young farmer invited to Diamond Jubilee lunch

Harper Adams University College alumnus Michael Lawrence has been invited to dine with the Royal Family at The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Lunch – all thanks to a good relationship started while he was a student.Michael graduated from Harper Adams with a first-class honours degree in Agriculture and Animal Science in 2010, and now works on the Lawrence family’s dairy farm, Holme Farm, on the outskirts of Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria.

As a student, Michael applied for a competitive scholarship sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Farmers and, having impressed a panel of judges, was awarded financial support for his studies. Michael continued correspondence with his sponsors until he had completed his studies and beyond. This impressed the Company so much that Michael was an obvious choice when they were asked to select seven people from across the agricultural sector to attend the Diamond Jubilee Lunch at Westminster Hall, being given for the Queen by the Livery companies.

Richard Brooks, past master of the Worshipful Company of Farmers, one of 108 livery companies of the City of London, said: “Michael Lawrence is a credit to himself and to Harper Adams University College. The Worshipful Company of Farmers gives prizes each year at 10 or 11 colleges and seldom do we receive even a letter of thanks – yet Michael even sent us a report of how he was getting on at home after University and his plans for the future of the family farm.”

Michael said this week: “I feel very fortunate to have been given this opportunity to attend the Diamond Jubilee lunch, and I am sure it will be an experience that I will never forget. The Worshipful Company of Farmers has been a tremendous support throughout my studies at Harper Adams and I thought it only courteous to keep in touch to let them know how I have been progressing, both at University and back at home on the farm.

“Travelling down to London and attending the event with others from a range of backgrounds within agriculture, alongside dining in the company of Royalty, is something I am definitely looking forward to.” Upon graduating from Harper Adams, Michael won five awards including the Society of Biology Top Student Award and a Royal Agricultural Society of England Award for being the best agricultural student, in recognition of his ‘outstanding progress academically and practically’.

Michael added: “The practical and academic experience gained whilst at Harper has set me in good stead for the future at home, where together with the rest of my family, I will continue to develop our business in the challenging dairying industry.”Harper Adams Principal Dr David Llewellyn said: “We are extremely grateful to the Worshipful Company of Farmers for its support for our students, and are particularly pleased that the Company has offered Michael this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I am sure that Michael will have a wonderful time at the Diamond Jubilee lunch and we look forward to hearing about this very special occasion on his return from London.”

In addition to The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Henry of Wales will also attend the Diamond Jubilee lunch hosted by the Livery on June 5. A small number of representatives from sponsoring livery companies will be present at the lunch, with the vast majority of the guest list of approximately 700 comprising people from all over the country whose trade, craft or profession is represented by one of the many different liveries taking part in the event, together with the charities, schools and other organisations they support.

Harper Adams University College is the UK's leading specialist provider of higher education for the rural and land-based industries. Our mission is to deliver higher education and research for the delivery of a sustainable food chain and rural economy. To see how Harper Adams can help you, visit www.harper-adams.ac.uk

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Harper Adams University College is the UK’s leading provider of specialist higher education and research for the food chain, rural and land-based industries. Undergraduate, postgraduate and PHD subjects cover every aspect of food production, from agricultural engineering to food marketing, land management and animal health and welfare. For more information visit www.harper-adams.ac.uk